How Long Has Semaglutide Been Around?

Semaglutide medications like Ozempic^® and Wegovy^® seemingly exploded onto the scene in the past couple of years. But the drug has been around longer than that.

How long has semaglutide been around, exactly?

Under the brand name Ozempic, semaglutide was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar. In 2021, it was FDA-approved under the brand name Wegovy^® to help those with obesity lose weight.

How long has Ozempic been studied? How long has Ozempic been on the market?  You’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers.

Read on to learn more about semaglutide and Ozempic history, including how it went from a drug for type 2 diabetes to a popular weight loss treatment.

Semaglutide has been available to the public since 2017, when the FDA approved Ozempic as a diabetes drug. Before receiving FDA approval, semaglutide was used in clinical trials.

Ozempic was later used off-label as a weight loss drug. (Off-label use is when a medication is prescribed for something other than what it’s FDA-approved to treat.)

In 2021, after more clinical trials, the FDA approved Wegovy^® for weight loss.

Here’s a quick rundown of when semaglutide hit the market:

• Ozempic. Ozempic was FDA-approved in December 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes.

• Rybelsus^®. Rybelsus — the tablet form of semaglutide — was FDA-approved in September 2019 as a diabetes drug.

• Wegovy^®. Wegovy^® was FDA-approved in June 2021. It’s currently the only semaglutide drug FDA-approved to treat obesity and overweight (for those with a weight-related health condition).

• Wegovy^®. In March 2024, Wegovy^® was also approved to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in those with cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity.

An analysis of electronic health records found that in 2023 alone, an estimated 1.7 percent of all Americans received a semaglutide prescription. That’s more than 5.6 million people.  

Believe it or not, semaglutide was inspired by lizard venom.

A scientist and endocrinologist at the University of Toronto named Daniel Drucker learned that the venom of the Gila monster — yes, that’s its real name — contained hormones that could regulate blood glucose levels.

Drucker began experimenting with the venom in the mid-nineties (as reported by Global News in an interview with the scientist). By 2005, a synthetic version of a hormone in the venom — a GLP-1 receptor agonist — was used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Next, the drugs exenatide (Byetta^®) and liraglutide (Victoza^® and Saxenda^®) were developed.

Byetta was FDA-approved in 2005, Victoza was approved in 2010, and Saxenda was approved in 2014.

These drugs help with blood sugar regulation and weight loss, but they require daily injections. Since daily injections may not be manageable for some people, research funded by Novo Nordisk — a Danish pharmaceutical company — began to develop a similar drug that only needed a weekly injection.

Novo Nordisk (also the maker of Victoza and Saxenda) developed semaglutide as a long-acting type 2 diabetes drug. 

Semaglutide was first tested on mice, and when it was found to be effective, it progressed to human clinical trials.

Weight loss wasn’t the aim, but it emerged as a common side effect of semaglutide.

Here’s how the Novo Nordisk clinical trials went down:

• Findings from the first clinical trials on semaglutide injections were published in 2017. These trials were on people with type 2 diabetes.

• Findings from later clinical trials on oral semaglutide for type 2 diabetes were published in 2019.

• Findings from additional clinical trials on semaglutide injections for weight loss were published in 2021.

When did semaglutide come out? After successful clinical trials, it received FDA approval in December 2017 to go out into the world under the brand name Ozempic.

And, voilà! — the drug we know today was born.

Since then, similar diabetes and weight loss drugs have been developed, including tirzepatide, sold under the brand names Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^®.

Semaglutide is sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy^®, and Rybelsus. They all work in a similar way, but they’re taken in different forms and are approved for different types of patients.

Here’s what you need to know about each type of semaglutide.

Ozempic

Ah, Ozempic. This is the brand name that probably comes to mind when you think about semaglutide.

Ozempic is a weekly subcutaneous (under the skin) injection FDA-approved to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. It’s also approved to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

While it’s never been approved for weight loss, it’s often prescribed off-label for this use.

Ozempic promotes weight loss by suppressing your appetite and making you feel fuller. This can naturally reduce your food intake, helping you lose weight.

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal issues, including stomach pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Rybelsus

Rybelsus is an oral version of semaglutide that’s taken as a tablet once a day. It’s approved to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar.

Like Ozempic, Rybelus isn’t FDA-approved for weight loss, but it’s often prescribed off-label as a weight loss treatment.

Side effects of Rybelsus are similar to those reported with Ozempic.

Wegovy^®

Wegovy^® is a once-a-week semaglutide injection available in higher doses than Ozempic.

It’s FDA-approved for weight loss and chronic weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. It’s also available to people with a BMI of 27 or higher and at least one weight-related health condition, such as:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

• High cholesterol

• Heart disease

• Sleep apnea

Wegovy^® is prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise. 

As of March 2024, Wegovy^® is also approved to reduce the risk of major adverse events in those with cardiovascular disease and either overweight or obesity.

Side effects of Wegovy^® are similar to Ozempic.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide to Wegovy^® versus Ozempic for weight loss.

Semaglutide may be helpful for those with type 2 diabetes and patients with overweight or obesity.

For weight loss, semaglutide is usually prescribed to people with a BMI of 30 or more or 27 or more with at least one weight-related health condition, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease.

Consult a healthcare provider to find out if semaglutide is right for you. 

Our guide to how to qualify for semaglutide goes into more detail.

Ozempic, Wegovy^®, and Rybelsus come with black box warnings from the FDA stating that they can cause thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents. But it’s unclear if the risk is there in humans.

For now, people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or those with multiple endocrine syndrome 2 shouldn’t take semaglutide.

You also shouldn’t take semaglutide if you have a serious hypersensitivity reaction to the drug.

Semaglutide has been linked to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Let your prescribing healthcare provider know if you’ve got a history of pancreatitis or any other health condition.

It’s usually recommended that you don’t take semaglutide when pregnant or breastfeeding. Let your provider know if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or want to try for a baby soon. They can give you the best advice on what to do.

How long has semaglutide been around? Today, semaglutide is a popular weight loss medication, but it’s been around longer than most people think.

Here’s a recap of the key questions you might have:

• How long has Ozempic been around? Ozempic was FDA-approved in 2017 as a diabetes medication. It’s sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss.

• How long has Wegovy^® been around? Wegovy^® was FDA-approved in 2021 as a weight loss drug.

• How long has semaglutide been used for weight loss? Semaglutide is often used off-label for weight loss in the form of Ozempic, but it was approved for weight loss in 2021 under the brand name Wegovy^®.

FYI, semaglutide isn’t your only option if you’re looking to lose weight.

Lifestyle changes — like eating nutritious foods, getting more activity, getting enough sleep, and drinking more water — can help. These habits can boost your weight loss efforts, whether you’re taking semaglutide or not.

Other medications that support weight loss, like metformin and topiramate, can also be helpful for some. Hers offers access to a range of weight loss options, including injections and oral medications, so you can find something to suit your budget, needs, and goals.

If it’s something you’re considering, take our free online assessment to see if you’re eligible and find the best weight loss treatment for you.